Consider the spud. Sure, it’s often thought of as a simple, standard restaurant staple—and in the quick-service field often relegated to the side of the plate or presented in fried format—but it also can be the subject of inspiration and kitchen creativity. Potatoes are also a cost-effective...

Many people think of baked potatoes and french fries when it comes to potato dishes in restaurants. What are some new ways potatoes are finding their way to menus?
I think smashing or ripping and then flash frying is a hot trend right now. Poutine is still pretty hot out there, and I’ve had really...

Brian Niccol is a man on a mission. In the nearly two years since Niccol was tabbed as Taco Bell’s president, and in the three months since he became chief executive, the Mexican-inspired quick-service restaurant chain has been an innovation engine for its parent company, Yum! Brands.
Last year...

Sweetgreen has upped the ante on its premium salads with the addition of salmon. The Washington, D.C.–based fast casual will serve the new protein for nine weeks as part of its spring seasonal menu.
“This, to me, is a game changer because there’s no one else doing what we’re doing with salmon,”...

After years of trial and error, Panda Express introduced its new Chinese Spare Ribs last week. Slow-cooked, bone-in ribs are rare within the limited-service sector, and Panda Express's rendition will be available through July 28.
“As a family-owned company, we believe in connecting people through...

Consumers looking over menuboards at their favorite quick-serve restaurants are going to notice some changes in 2015, as the calorie-labeling mandate that was created in 2010 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was finalized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in...

Dog Haus, a Southern California–based hot dog concept, is in the final stages of implementing self-service beer stations in two locations. The self-serve iPourIt system allows customers to pay for a pre-loaded card and make their selections on an iPad attached to beer stations in the store.
Dog...

It’s a brave new foodservice world. The quick-service restaurant community is facing increasing competition from supermarkets, convenience stores, and big-box retailers that are offering their own prepared food choices and branded restaurant concepts. While retail food offerings are not a new...

There’s nothing fishy about the seafood at limited-service restaurants today. Operators are focused on meeting consumers’ demands for seafood that is creative, healthful, and sustainable, from grilled fish fillets to upscale lobster rolls.

It’s quite possible you’re not aware of all that you’ve already missed this summer—from National Quiche Lorraine Day on May 20 to National Dry Martini Day on June 19. But don’t worry; you can make up for it by celebrating both of the culinary items (macaroni and Grand Marnier) highlighted for...

Perched on one side of this upstart, food-court competitor, there’s a Five Guys. On the other side, there’s an A&W All American Food stand. But the fast-food joint often attracting the longest lines at the bustling Florida Mall in Orlando, Florida, is a chain that most mall-goers had never...

When President Barack Obama announced a sweeping change to the country’s overtime pay law on June 30, the ripples from the first proposed adjustment in decades were immediately felt throughout the retail industry.

To some employees, it could spell the end of working extra hours without...

The minimum wage is on the mind of most quick-service operators today, especially as many states and cities pass regulations that bump the minimum wage upward.But when Moo Cluck Moo founder Brian Parker and his team first sat down to discuss employee pay, he says, the minimum wage wasn’t even

Regular readers of this column know that for some years now, I’ve been dispensing suggestions on how quick-serve chains can do more to court millions of Millennials, aka members of Generation Y, whose adventurous palates, curious minds, and unconventional tastes have often made them elusive qu

As most of the food industry knows, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced an extension to the rule released last year requiring that restaurant chains and retailers provide customers with calorie counts on available food and beverages by December 1, 2015.Now restaurants have an e